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How Effective are Sale Signs?

Sale Signs in a Department Clothing Store

Effects of Sale Signs

Table of Contents
Signs Improve Sales
Customer Influence
Color Effects
Black Friday Statistics

The holiday rush is coming. People across the country will be shopping for the best deals on the perfect gifts for their loved ones. Your business needs to stand out to catch the eye of every potential customer, but how effective is your sale signage?

A bright, flashy sign may seem like a great idea, but what effect will it have? We addressed how to use psychology for your sale signage in a previous post, and we wanted to expand on the effect of the techniques addressed.

Signs Improve Sales

30% Off Sale Clothing Rack Tag

The purpose of your Black Friday sales is to move product, right? Proper labeling, even for items with unchanged prices, may improve your business’s numbers. Luckily, savvy marketers and researchers have already studied ways to capture sales.

Business Insider references an unpublished MIT study that separated products into three groups. The first was the control; unlabeled at regular price. The second group had their prices reduced by 12% without signage. And, the final group kept the normal price but marked with sale stickers.

The second group had an approximate increase of 17% in sales. But, the third labeled, unchanged-price group sold over 3% more compared to the control. This study’s conclusion demonstrates that sales improve by posting sale signs.¹

The end goal of your signage should be to influence a customer into committing to a sale.

Customer Influence

Two Customers Browsing and Reading Books

Attracting new customers should be an integral part of your Black Friday sales. Studies show that appealing signage is great at bringing in new business and securing sales.

According to a FedEx survey, 68% of people make a purchase because a sign grabbed their attention. Additionally, 76% of Americans visit a new store based on their signage.²

Part of preparing for a successful Black Friday and holiday season means understanding how to draw new customers in. Designing visually interesting signage and marketing or event banners is a perfect way to draw in this business.

Color and your product’s appearance also plays a major role in securing sales.

Results of Implementing Colors

Woman Standing in Front of an Orange SALE Sign

Reading how colors influence customers is a great first step towards improving your store’s signage. But, how effective is it? In a previous post, we addressed how color influences people.

To recap; people associate emotions and reactions depending on which colors they see. Reds invoke a faster heartrate, blues elicit a sense of trustworthiness, greens indicate health or prosperity, etc.

What does this mean for your sale signage? Well, as mentioned previously, a large majority of consumers make purchases because a sign caught their eye. Additionally, roughly 93% of people claim that the visual appearance of a product is the main reason for their purchase.³ Furthermore, a study from the SCMS Journal of Indian Management estimates that a customer’s willingness to read and selling potential increases by 80% when color is present.4

Prepare for Black Friday

Red Special Deal Sign in a Mall

To give your business the best chance at taking advantage of the busiest shopping day of the year, we’ve aggregated some Black Friday statistics and frequently asked questions. Understanding key aspects of Black Friday shoppers and numbers helps in your preparations.

  • When is Black Friday?
    • Black Friday is November 29, 2019
  • How Much Does the Average Person Spend on Black Friday?
    • Finder estimates that the average person will spend between roughly $252 and $626 depending on their age5
  • How Many People Shopped on Black Friday?
    • Over 34 million people shopped in stores in 20186
  • How Much Did People Spend on Black Friday 2018?
    • Over $717 billion total between in-store and online7

While there seems to be a downward trend for in-store shopping, ignoring the millions of brick-and-mortar shoppers is ill-advised. Your sale signage can play a major role in ensuring a successful Black Friday and holiday season.

With so many people shopping, both online and in-store, you need to prepare the best deals and signage to stay competitive and catch the eyes of any and all potential customers.



Save 20 Percent on Holiday Signs with Code CSIGN20, Holiday Sale Banner on Brick Wall

CustomSigns.com is the best online store for ordering high-quality, eye-catching sale signs and business banners. Customization is always free and most orders ship next business day. Attract new customers for Black Friday and special holiday sales with CustomSigns.com.

Resources:

  1. Business Insider – Sales
  2. FedEx
  3. Colorcom
  4. SCMS Journal of Indian Management
  5. Finder
  6. Business Insider – Black Friday
  7. The Balance

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How to Use Psychology in Your Sale Signage

Red "Huge Sale" Sign Posted In Front of a Telephone Pole
Table of Contents
Color Psychology
▸The Color Red
▸Other Colors
Number Psychology
▸Dollar Sign
▸Bulk Offers

With winter fast approaching and your holiday sales starting soon, if they haven’t already, you may want to consider some of the psychology behind successful signage. How does color affect customers? What do numbers mean to consumers? These are questions to bear in mind when designing signage for your sales.

How Colors Affect Customers

Colored Papers Against a Pink Background

Since signs are a visual form of advertising, colors play an integral role in the success of your sales. According to The Ultralinx, over 84% of people say that color is the main reason they buy something.¹ With this in mind, the color of your sale signage influences your customers decisions.

The Color Red


Flash Sale Banner on Wooden Wall

Generally, sale and clearance signs are in red, but why? A 2011 study found that grip strength and the velocity of the force increases when a person sees the color red.² The study concludes that red encourages a fast, physical reaction from individuals. Additionally, red conjures up feelings of urgency and can lead to an increased heart rate. With all these factors combined, red is the perfect color to entice shoppers into taking advantage of sales.

What About Other Colors?

Other colors evoke intrinsic reactions as well. Shades of blue instill a sense of trustworthiness and dependability, green hues show health and wealth, and yellows elicit positivity.³ Depending on your business, you may want to play with colors that are in-line with your brand and what you want to convey to your customers. While colors are the first thing consumers notice, what your signage says should further entice a sale.

The Numbers Matter

Pile of United States Dollars

If you’re planning on adjusting prices for your holiday sales, you may want to consider the specific numbers used. Numbers play an important part in any marketing or advertising campaign, and your signage should reflect that value. Prices ending in 7, 8, or 99 indicate value according Mark Ellwood, who wrote “Bargain Fever: How to Shop in a Discounted World.” Items priced with “.99” generally advertise special savings while “7” or “8” are usually used for clearance items.4 The psychology behind “.99” comes from the idea that consumers tend to round down these numbers. For example, an item priced at $4.99 is perceived as $4 rather than $5. This plays into how your customers perceive the sales you launch during the holidays. Are your sales meant to convey value or that you are attempting to clear out your stock?

Dollars Signs Are Discouraged


Red Huge Sale Yard Sign

In addition to how your sale prices end, you may want to reconsider including the dollar sign on your signage. Cornell University researchers conducted an experiment with customers of St. Andrew’s Cafe. They made three menus to test which one led to increased sales. One menu listed items with the dollar sign ($), one with the word “dollar” spelled out, and one with nothing next to the prices.

The study found that customers spent more money when they ordered from menus without the “$” or word “dollar.”5 The researchers concluded that the symbol or word solidified the idea that customers would be spending money whereas leaving them out meant the numbers were less concrete in the minds of the consumers.

Suggest Bulk Offers

Offering bulk discounts or sales touting savings for purchasing multiples of the same product is a tried-and-true marketing tactic. Buy one, get one has been around for decades, but advertising bigger can entice consumers to buy even more. John Gourville of Harvard Business School states “many people buy the amount, or buy in increments….”6 Consumers perceive an inherent value when a greater number of goods is suggested for the same proportionate deal. Including this method on your holiday signage can help increase sales and move more merchandise.



Save 20 Percent on Holiday Signs with Code CSIGN20, Holiday Sale Banner on Brick Wall

CustomSigns.com is your one-stop-shop destination for all your business signage needs. From sale banners to hours of operation signs, you can find and customize the signage your business needs to succeed.

Related Posts:

References:

  1. The Ultralinx
  2. National Center for Biotechnology Information
  3. Shopify
  4. Business Insider
  5. Fast Company
  6. New York Times

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Signs Every Business Needs

There are many aspects to making sure your business runs smoothly and effectively. Advertising, finance, and customer service are just 3 of the many roles that serve a huge part in your business’s success. While these are all essential duties, making sure your customers have a pleasurable experience may be the most vital task. Clearly displayed business hours, designated parking spaces and handicap accessible restrooms show customers that you care. By installing signage inside and around your building, you’re telling your customers they can trust you.

Here is a list of signs that every business should display:

Grand Opening

Once your storefront has come together, you’ll want to let customers and clients know you are open for business. Personalizing a grand opening banner can inform onlookers that you are up and running. Drive customers in with creative designs, a custom logo, and opening promotions. You will want to include your company name, phone number, location and web address. Give your hard work the recognition it deserves and make sure you implement enough advertisement to bring in excited customers.

Parking Spots

After attracting the customers to your store, make it easy for them to park and walk in. Depending on your location you may have storefront parking, a stand-alone lot, or street parking. Show customers you care about their convenience and display signs for your business’s designated parking spots.

You can get creative and design your own parking sign or order a pre-made template. Before installing a sign, find out if you are authorized to make those changes. Whether you need to contact the city or the owner of the complex your store is in, take the time to get the information you need.

If you can’t hold certain spots available, you can display a sign informing future customers where available parking lots/spots are for those who wish to enter your business.

Hours of Operation

It is wonderful to gain repeat customers and loyal clients! While you and your staff work hard to keep your store up and running, you can only stay open for so long. Displaying a sign that solely contains business hours is essential. Clings and decals can be placed in the window by the front door, or you can hang a sign for optimal visibility. If hours are flexible or you just opened and are figuring out your hours of operation, you can display a reversible open/closed sign. You can hang it next to your hours of operation sign and flip it depending on if your store is open or closed.

Restroom Signs

Whether you serve food, goods, or service, you most likely have restrooms for your patrons. It can be hard to spot the bathroom if you do not display signage. You can help point them in the right direction with a directional sign. You’ll be surprised how helpful a simple arrow sign can be to a customer who is unfamiliar with your building.

Once they get to the designated restroom, make sure you distinguish the type of lavatories provided. Are your bathrooms for men and women, family, and/or handicap accessible? Show it!

Depending on your establishment, you may or may not be required to provide a washroom for customers to use. Make sure to check your state and local laws when finding a place for your business.

In Case of Emergency

While you should be taking the proper precautions to prevent any emergencies from occurring, accidents still happen. If a problem does arise, it is imperative that you have had emergency signs placed to ensure staff and customer safety.

Mark the proper doors as emergency exits and use a directional sign so people can locate the fire extinguisher. If your place of business has multiple floors, make sure to use a sign that states using the stairs in case of an emergency. For any tripping hazards, you should use a caution watch your step sign.

 

 

Keep your business running safe and effectively by displaying the proper signage. This is both a courtesy to your customers, but will also help protect your business from liability. Customize signs or order templates to make sure you convey important information to customers, clients, and staff. For all your sign and plaque needs shop our online store at Customsigns.com.

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Get Creative with Vinyl Banners

Vinyl banners are an exceptional marketing tool – they’re affordable, eye-catching, portable, and reusable. And best of all, they’re completely custom and are ideal for promoting everything from farmers markets to political campaigns to the newest business to join your community, and everything in between. Let your creativity be your guide!

Vinyl Banners Are an Ideal Advertising Tool

Whether you’re promoting a one-time event or focusing on long-term marketing strategies, vinyl banners are an ideal medium for marketing your business (or event!) to the masses. Made of high quality vinyl, banners are cost-effective, lightweight, durable, easily portable, and reusable.  Available in a variety of sizes, personalized text and custom designs, vinyl banners are a tried and true marketing tool that works.

We’ve compiled a list of our favorite innovative uses for vinyl banners that will get your creative juices flowing:

Bands, Stages, and Backdrops

Whether you’re promoting your up-and-coming indie band or you’re headed out on tour, vinyl banners are a terrific option for easily portable, eye-catching custom signs for outdoor venues, stages, and even as custom backdrops for wherever you’re playing your next gig.

Artists and Arts Festivals

The perfect ‘canvas’ for promoting artists and local arts festivals, vinyl banners are the perfect artistic avenue for drawing attention to arts, crafts, and other one-of-a-kind handmade goods made by talented artisans from near and far.

Farmer’s Markets

Custom Coming Soon BannerAccording to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, there are more than 8,000 farmer’s markets across the US offering a variety of organically grown produce, select meats, fresh seafood, artisan cheeses, local honey, and more. A brightly colored backdrop to showcase your local farmer’s market, a design-your-own vinyl banner is a vibrant venue for advertising the best your community has to offer!

Small Businesses

Whether you’re a brand new corner café or coffee shop or a local hardware store that’s been in the community for generations, vinyl banners are a professional, polished way to advertise to everyone passing by, inviting them to stop in and see what’s new!

Sporting Teams and Local Sponsors

From colleges to high schools and even grade schools, sports teams are everywhere! Whether you’re supporting your local football, baseball, basketball, volleyball, or other school sports team, custom vinyl banners are a popular and effective way to secure sponsorships while economically advertising local goods, services, and small businesses. A win-win for everyone!

Local Running Events

What better way to promote your local running event – from 5k’s to marathons and everything in between – than with custom banners? Flying high above the crowds, banners will easily show runners where to find registration, pick up running packets, and, most importantly, cross those start and finish lines with ease!

Political Campaigns

Name recognition is the name of the game! Political campaigns work tirelessly to make their candidates known and this grassroots method of promoting a nominee to the masses is an economical way to get the word out. Designing eye-catching, reusable political banners will rally voters to the booths every Election Day.

Holiday Events

Bring on the holiday cheer! Give your storefront a merry makeover or promote your local holiday celebrations with a richly colored, festively designed vinyl banner or two. Whether you’re promoting seasonal sales or your community’s annual winter wonderland extravaganza, your ho-ho-holidays are sure to be filled with merriment.

 

Whether you’re designing a banner for your local festival, a community extravaganza, or your small business to use all year long, Customsigns.com makes it easy and fun to create vibrantly colored, high quality banners that are made to last. Start from scratch or choose one of our templates. With our custom design tool, your perfect banners are just a few clicks away. Our Customer Focus Team is here to answer any questions you may have. Simply email us or call (877) 251-9444.

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How to Use Acrylic Signage

Acrylic Signs

Table of Contents
Introduction
What Are Acrylic Signs?
How to Customize Acrylic
Installing Acrylic Signs
Acrylic Uses
How to Care for Acrylic Signs

First impressions are key, so your public space should always look its best. One way to create a polished, professional, cohesive look is to welcome your clients, customers, or guests with eye-catching acrylic signs. Visually appealing, printed in full color with photographic quality, acrylic signs can be an economical and effective marketing tool for your business or conveying your custom message. Whether you’re promoting your brand, displaying a company logo, or distinguishing rooms or offices, acrylic signs are an excellent option.

What are Acrylic Signs?

Acrylic signs are made of a colorless, transparent, durable polymer material, formed into plastic sheets, that resembles the clarity of glass. Because of acrylic’s versatility, flexibility, strength, and lighter weight, it is often preferred to glass, which is naturally more fragile. Able to be printed with a full scale of colors, acrylic signs provide a clean, sophisticated look to virtually any space. Acrylic may also be referred to as Plexiglas®, Lucite®, Acrylite®, Crylux®, Perspex®, or plastic glass, among others.


Acrylic Room Number Sign

How is Acrylic Customized?

Made by printing directly onto its surface with UV ink, acrylic can be customized either on the front or back surface of the sign. Printing can include simple letters, numbers, or symbols, or use a full-color company logo or other image or photograph.

On standard surface acrylic signs, printing is done on the front side of the sign, producing a matte appearance. Because this printing rests on the front surface of the sign, it is more easily prone to scratches or other damage.

Second surface acrylic signs are printed from the back of the sign, creating a uniform, glossy finish. This printing method ensures a deeper sheen and protects the ink from being rubbed off or scratched.

The purpose of the sign will likely dictate the thickness of the acrylic. Signs typically range from 1/16 inch to as much as one inch or more.

Acrylic sign edges can be either standard or polished. Standard edges are machine cut, unpolished, and have a frosted appearance. Polished edges result in a smoother edge with a shiny finish.

Acrylic material also can be cut into three-dimensional logos, individual letters, numbers, or shapes, creating an eye-catching way of displaying a company logo or message.

Installing Acrylic Signs

Acrylic signs are best displayed when mounted on a clean, flat surface. Most often, custom acrylic signs include an option for pre-drilled holes and can be installed with traditional screws or aluminum or brushed nickel standoffs. Standoffs allow the sign to be displayed at a distance from the wall, creating a three-dimensional effect.

Floating Acrylic Restaurant Sign
bannerbuzz.com

Other Uses for Acrylic Material

Acrylic can be heated to form a variety of useful and creative products, for example:

  • Freestanding signs and cardholders
  • Illuminated menu boards
  • Retail and restaurant signs
  • Name tags and name plates
  • Informational signs
  • Directional signs
  • Room identification signs
  • Exhibition signs
Floating Acrylic Stairs Sign
boothdesignmalaysia.com

Caring for Your Acrylic Signs

Acrylic surfaces can scratch, chip, or shatter when not carefully handled. Acrylic signs should be installed with care in areas that are not exposed to direct heat or sunlight for extended periods of time. Acrylic signs are most suitable for extended indoor use or shorter-term outdoor use in covered areas.

To clean acrylic signs, use a clean, soft, damp cloth to gently wipe surface areas.

Get 20% Off Your Order with Code CSIGN20, Acrylic Room Number Sign

For more information on how to make custom signs work for your business, please see our related blog posts:

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Banner Design Tips – Marketing Your Business or Event in Style

From local small businesses to national companies that are looking for an economical way to market to the masses, vinyl banners are an ideal choice. Vibrant, colorful, and attention-grabbing, banners are versatile and offer a creative channel to communicate with potential customers or clients. Banners look beautiful while hanging and, when thoughtfully designed, can influence the behaviors of local consumers.

 

Banners offer a variety of benefits –

  • Custom designed for your specific message or promotion, banners are a colorful, eye-catching way to attract the attention of hundreds of people a day
  • Available in custom sizes to fit your needs, banners are ideal for small shops, big business spaces, and everywhere in between
  • Banners are a cost-effective method of marketing your message to multitudes of people within a given time
  • Lightweight and durable, our flexible banners are easy to install, weather and fade resistant, and neatly roll for compact storage
  • Reusable and easily movable, banners are perfect for displaying messages precisely when and where they’re needed

Vinyl Banners 101

How Are Banners Constructed?

Our banners are made from high quality 13 oz. woven fiber vinyl with gloss finish, ideal for repeated indoor/outdoor use. Our vinyl is tear and fade resistant, providing exceptional print quality and affordability. Our banners include a reinforced hem to prevent fraying.

What Are Grommets?

Grommets are small metal rings placed on vinyl banners that provide reinforced holes for hanging. These small metal rings provide extra stability and help protect banners from tearing while hung. Grommets are placed in all four corners; additional grommets are added around banner perimeter as required for proper fastening.

 

printastic.com

 

What Are Wind Slits?

Wind slits are small, half-moon shaped cuts made directly in the vinyl that allow wind to easily pass through the banner while reducing wind pressure and stress.

Banner Cleaning and Storage

Clean with mild soap and warm water on a slightly dampened soft cloth and dry thoroughly before storing. To avoid wrinkles or creases, store banners loosely rolled in a cool, dry place.

Displaying Your Banner

When installing a banner, do not overstretch or pull the material too tightly. Especially when hanging outside where wind or rain may tug at the banner, leaving a bit of ‘play’ for the banner to gently move will prevent unnecessary damage.

Popular Banner Sizes and Costs

With our custom Design Your Own Banner tool, creating the perfect banner is ideal for whatever merchandise you’re marketing or event you’re promoting.

Popular banner sizes and costs are –

  • 2’ x 3’   $19.95

Ideal for small spaces, windows, or hanging above merchandise or behind registers. Smaller banners can leave a big impression.

  • 3’ x 6’   $37.95

Ideal for posting on storefronts or promoting special events, these banners are versatile and visible.

  • 4’ x 8’   $67.95

Ideal for hanging high atop buildings or storefronts, these signs are designed to attract attention from travelers from a distance with a message they’ll remember.

Designing an Effective Banner

To promote your brand effectively, designing a banner with a valuable message is essential. Here are our five key tips for designing an effective banner –

Perfect your message!

Less is more. Messages that are short, clear, and concise are more readily remembered by potential customers or clients who are busy and often distracted. For large, outdoor banners five to eight words is ideal, indoor banners should not exceed 15 words or a few short phrases. Keep images and embellishments to a minimum. Too much visual clutter will detract from your core message.

Size matters.

Whether your banner will be read closely or from a distance, choose a banner size that will easily convey your message. Banners that will be read from the street should be larger and include text that is easily readable, while for interior spaces, smaller signs will pack a big punch.

 

Location, location, location.

Banners should be hung where they will get consumers’ attention, yet not distract from your message. Avoid placing banners over your store name, for example, or in hard to see places. Indoor banners should be strategically placed to lead customers and clients further inside or encourage them to ask questions or for additional information.

 

Consider color and contrast.

Ideally, the colors on your banner should match or complement your brand’s identity. A single color background will create a more polished, professional look. The greater the contrast between the banner background, font, and graphics, the better its readability will be.

Fonts and graphics.

When choosing font styles, simplicity is key. Stay away from fonts that are too elaborate or challenging to read. No more than two complimentary styles are best. Graphics should be high resolution and clearly relate to your message.

Whether you’re promoting a grand opening, a special event, that spectacular sale or professional services, Customsigns.com makes it easy to create the banners you need for your business. Design your custom banners from scratch or choose from one of our templates. With our custom design tool, your perfect banners are just a click away.

For more information on how to make banners work for you, please see our related blog posts:

Making Temporary Signs Work for You

Custom Banners for School Events

Tips for Designing Visually Effective and Interesting Signs